Create… Recruit… Involve…

How to recruit, involve and create opportunities for volunteers who are between the ages of 16 – 25!

How to recruit, involve and create opportunities for volunteers who are between the ages of 16 – 25!

• Who you are?

• Which organisation you are from?

• How you currently work with young volunteers?

• Why did you decide to come to this workshop or one question/concern you’d like answered today?

Young People are not a homogenous group

Why do you want to recruit 16 – 25 year old volunteers?

Why do you want to recruit 16 – 25 year old volunteers?

Benefit from innovative ideas and spanking new approaches To help make the organisation youth friendly and grow its beneficiaries To attract a new pool of volunteers To increase diversity amongst volunteers To utilize different resources, akin to this age group Responding to the needs of the community To help this age group establish their own self worth and sense of community

…So why might the 16 – 25 year olds in your area have found it difficult to get involved?

…So why might the 16 – 25 year olds in your area have found it difficult to get involved? • They don’t know how to become involved!

• Lack of time! • Feel they can’t make a commitment!

• Lack of interest! • No one asked them!

• Don’t know what they’ll gain!

• Don’t feel needed! • Lack of transportation/support!

• Don’t think its cool!

How to create opportunities for young volunteers Ben, ‘Involve as many people as possible. It is important everyone feels they are playing their part and making a difference to be proud of’.

How to create opportunities Matt, ‘Follow your original dream or goal, it will take a while (it took my project over 3 years to get to where it is now!)’

Virtual Volunteering • Web Researcher • Photographers • Online Proofreaders • Web Artist • Bloggers • Online Chatterboxes • Podcasts/Vodcasts

http://www.thesite.org/chooseaction/virtualvolunteering

Virtual Volunteering Miche: ‘I think its an easy way of doing something and you can manage your time by just doing as much as your routine allows’. Keyla: ‘I think its a better way for young people because were always on the computer, its easier and everyone has access to it. Whether its at your house, in a cafe or at college’.

Renne: ‘I think most young people enjoy browsing the net and because of sites like facebook, we find ourselves online several times a week (if not daily). As we're already online virtual volunteering is not an inconvenience and you do not have to leave the comfort of your home’.

How to create opportunities for young volunteers:

• Flexibility – Offer short term, part time and full time • Legitimacy – Make it mean something • Ease of access – Break down the barriers • Xperience – Speaks for itself • Incentives – Skills, add to your CV • Variety – What else?

• Organisation – Supported • Laughs – Fun, fun, fun

How to recruit young volunteers:

Methods of recruiting young volunteers:

• Draw on current activities • Spend time understanding the larger issues • Communicate the message & keep in touch • Be as specific as you can be. Highlight what will they get out of it • Make use of your current volunteers • Market Research • Does it matter what you call it?

• Adverts on do-it.org.uk should be fresh & appealing • Language and tone

Writing opportunities for do-it.org.uk

‘Not specifically targeted to young people and rather bland prose that doesn't suggest any benefits to the reader. Could be better said as: Aged 16-25 and need to know your way around the office to land your first job?’ ‘ This role is youth-friendly because incentives are offered such as refreshments, a possible pick up which would be good for young people who do not drive and on-the-job training is provided. There is also an element of variety in the tasks offered in this role, which will keep young people occupied and focused throughout the day’. ‘ The whole text is a little too short and too vague could describe a day's typical activities’.

‘ The opportunity has the potential to capture a young person's attention however the title as 'Young Club Volunteers' can sound patronising’.

How young people use the web

• Red areas show where people • • start looking Start in top left corner As soon as they see a link that • is relevant they click on it Eye travels vertically along the far left side of the results • looking for visual cues Users are fast moving. Task oriented. Impatient. Easily distracted

How to involve young volunteers

‘

I am a young person I want you to engage me by providing crisps and biscuits’ ‘I am a young person I want you to engage me by checking that I’m ok if I go out to another organisation’

‘I am a young person I want you to engage me by saying thank you’ ‘I am a young person I want you to involve me by letting me make decisions on how much money you spend on advertising’

‘I am a young person I want you to involve me by acting on my suggestions’

How to involve young volunteers

• Participating • Methods • Thank you • Young leaders • Further information

Top tips for managing and supporting (young) volunteers?

Be clear Support Create an experience Celebrate Accreditation & training Others Expenses

Top tips for brokers who want to inspire others • Demonstrate the benefits • Share ideas • Be there • Pass on your knowledge • Encouragement

…So why might the 16 – 25 year olds in your area have found it difficult to get involved

?

REASON SOLUTION No one asked them Ask them They don’t know how to become involved Lack of time Feel they can’t make a commitment – other commitments seem more appealing Lack of interest Don’t know what they’ll gain Don’t feel needed Spread the word Be flexible Show the benefits Put the Volunteer in the centre Shout it from the roof tops Thank you Lack of transportation or they need additional support Don’t think its cool Flexibility & expenses Open their minds

Signposts

Information on Health and Safety for involving young people as volunteers http://www.volunteering.org.uk/Resources/ Support for Young People on setting up their own topics www.vinspired.com

www.junction49.com

Participation http://www.participationworks.org.uk/ http://www.yomo.co.uk/ More information on involving young volunteers www.do-it.org.uk

http://energise.timebank.org.uk/support/YTB_toolkit_web.pdf

www.youthactionnetwork.org.uk